Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
City Lawmakers To Take Another Look At Contenders
Kimball City Council members are still talking about filling the open seat at their meeting table. At this point, they have not found common ground.
The vacancy on the Kimball City Council will remain vacant for at least another month.
After reviewing letters from people interested in the position, Mayor Keith Prunty requested that Kathy Porter be nominated and selected to fill the vacancy created when Christy Warner stepped down.
An active and lengthy discussion over the matter took place at the Jan. 21 meeting, but the three remaining council members could not agree on filling the vacant position.
According to the discussion, the mayor received and reviewed four letters from city residents expressing interest in the position.
Council member James Shields made the motion for Porter to be appointed, but the motion died for lack of a second. Now the letters will be re-examined in order to find a new council member.
Following the council vacancy issue, council member Kim Baliman nominated Matt Bright to be council president. The vote was 2-1 to approve Bright as the new president. Shields voted nay.
Meanwhile, the Kimball Friendship Center represented by Wanda Madden presented a check to the city for $400 in appreciation of the work that city employees do for the center. The senior center suggested the money be earmarked for expenses at Gotte Park.
In other business, the Cemetery Board recommended a rate change and the council approved the increases in opening and closing a site. A perpetual care charge of $200 will be added to each space and the Second Right of Interment will be $300.
Discussion continued on the city pool, as it appears its life expectancy has reached the final stages.
There was discussion and a vote to prepare a resolution for the next council meeting so that it can be placed on the ballot in the primary election. The resolution would stipulate that a half percent sales tax be added to fund the new city pool. The vote to prepare a resolution was approved.
The council authorized City Manager Dan Dean to accept proposals/bids for the fitness center equipment at Kimball Event Center, which may transition from public to private ownership this year. A couple of people have expressed interested in the equipment and opening a fitness center.
As the city council continues to help make improvements in the downtown area with the Business Facade Improvement Grants, Hays Roofing was the recipient of the most recent grant.
GRI received a Business Infrastructure Improvement Grant for a new HVAC system, which will be purchased locally.
The council will next meet 6 p.m. Feb. 18, the third Tuesday of February, in the city council chambers.